La Platea is a brand-new shopping centre on Calle Goya, 7 (next to Plaza Colón) that will celebrate its first ever Christmas this winter after its inauguration last June. With an initial investment of 60 million euros, it is a gamble but a firm one to revamp the whole outdated ‘shopping centre’ concept. And so, more than 20 gourmet food bars from different countries, high-range gastronomic offers and gourmet shops complete what is a very tempting food offer.

A good idea in order not to get lost is to start at El Foso, an area located in the basement with a large central dining area, surrounded by bars that serve cuisines from all over the world: Mexican, Italian, Japanese and Argentinian (a special mention goes to the juicy boneless ribs (entrecorte) at 7 euros per ration.

One of Madrid’s strongest points is the love that each and every one of its waiters have for beer, as you can see in the dedication they show when pouring the cañas. In a normal caña, the visitor can find a sufficient source of pleasure but, if you would like to go deeper into the world of beer, there is a huge list of breweries with the best beers from around the world, whether it is on tap or in a bottle or even brewed by themselves.

Open in 2012, Fábrica Maravillas, in the heart of Malasaña (Calle Valverde, 29), is a good starting point. It is not common in Madrid to find beer made by the bar where you are drinking it but it does happen in this modern place owned by a Frenchman from Brittany who is a huge beer lover. It is an excellent chance to sample this ancient drink made at home, with different intensities, aromas and graduations that make it a highly stimulating experience.